Once her feet had been given a direction Hailey hardly noticed the details that passed between tossing her last five at the cabbie for a tip to resisting to the urge to lift the petite woman as she smothered Annie with all the affection she’d mustered up on the drive over. Perhaps even taking advantage of the fact that the woman in front of her was one of the few people she already knew that she could share her joy with without having the burden of past disappointments or regrets to shadow her smile. Green eyes warm when she finally took a step back, catching sight of Annie’s welcoming smile and taking a second to process how the older woman had changed from the partygoer she’d managed to rub elbows with instead of wasting time studying for boring college exams back in the day. The two finding out quickly enough that they had a few things in common, like a mutual appreciation for draft beer instead of the cheap piss that was popular in the frats and brothers who ate up a good chunk of their brains most of the time.
While they had gotten along fine in person, even exchanged numbers, Annie and Hailey had never really had the chance to become more than party friends and texties. Now that she was back though Hailey hoped that they could get to know each other better. The blonde easily following the other woman’s lead as they made their way back to the bar. A mighty thirst awakening in her when Hailey was asked what she might like to drink, her sweet tooth poking out a bit before she finally decided, “Hmmmm, how about you give me little bit of everything under the sink? I’ll take a long island ice tea and with all these decoration going up already I expect it to be a nice shamrock green. Or else you won’t be getting anything out of my pot o’ gold tonight.”
She sat herself nice and pretty on a stool in front of the bar, having already shrugged herself out of the coat she’d worn inside and draping it over one of the chairs next to her. Eyes following Annie as she moved with her chin propped up on the interlocked fingers of her hands, elbows already planted firmly on the bar as she added in an almost wistful, offhanded tone, “It’s kind of funny how you don’t realize just how much you miss a place until you’re finally back.”
The word 'home' missing from that statement, but Hailey couldn't claim something she just didn't quite feel yet.